Egan Bernal 'really proud' of first WorldTour podium since life-threatening crash

"Egan, Egan, Egan," chanted the throngs of Colombian supporters outside Ineos Grenadiers' team bus at the end of the Volta a Catalunya, their passion no less enthusiastic than the day he won the Tour de France back in 2019. Inside the bus, Egan Bernal cut the smile of a rider who has achieved something special once again.

Only this time, in completely different circumstances.

"I'm just happy," Bernal said, as he struggled to find the words for his emotions at first. "I am really proud of the team and also of myself. I think it was a really hard week but in the end, we did well."

Bernal was interviewed by his team just moments after taking to the podium to celebrate a week of tough racing that resulted in his third-place finish - importantly, his first WorldTour podium since he won the Giro d'Italia in 2021.

Since that moment of glory in Milan, the Colombian has had to overcome a career-threatening crash suffered at the start of 2022, with Bernal crediting his team doctor for putting his shattered femur back into place at the roadside and saving his life.

A little over two months later, the Colombian was back outside on his Pinarello, determined to rejoin the racing ranks. His comeback to the sport's highest level would be much more gradual, however, such was the extent of his injuries and necessary rehabilitation period.

The end of 2022 brought a dozen race days, before 2023 saw Bernal race the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España, both in support of his teammates' ambitions and as part of his rehabilitation. Bernal explained that such a heavy schedule was important in rebuilding the muscles in his legs.

Bernal was inspirational throughout, pulling off an improbable comeback and even notching up a few notable days in the saddle - a day in the breakaway at the Vuelta comes to mind - but the jury was out on whether the two-time Grand Tour champion could contest for wins again.

Three months into 2024 and that question has been answered in resounding fashion, with the 27-year-old finishing no lower than seventh in his four stage races to date, and the Volta a Catalunya providing the scene of his best performance in nigh on three years.

After months of painstaking recovery and rehabilitation, followed by a season getting back to grips with racing at the highest level, it appears that Egan Bernal is a true stage race leader for Ineos Grenadiers once more.

Read more: Whisper it quietly, but Egan Bernal is looking like a stage race leader again

Bernal impresses at the Volta a Catalunya

Heading into the Volta a Catalunya, Bernal was his team's best shot at a high GC standing - Geraint Thomas is in tune-up mode for the Giro and Laurens De Plus is best suited as a climbing domestique - but that wasn't to say the Colombian was not without hesitation at the aim of finishing on the podium.

"That was the goal of the team," he said. "But also being realistic from where I come from, it was a bit difficult to do the podium. But that is what I had on my mind and the team was working for that since the beginning."

After three stages and Tadej Pogačar's (UAE Team Emirates) exploits, though, the Colombian sat almost a minute down on the third-placed Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe). Little by little, however, Bernal prised his way up the standings and with a tremendous performance to finish second on the Queen stage, the Colombian moved up six places to overhaul the Russian.

Read more: Egan Bernal best of the rest after Tadej Pogačar’s latest Catalunya masterclass

"At some point, we were a bit far in the GC but still believing in the goal and thanks to the team, we finally did it."

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Bernal and Mikel Landa came to the line together on stage 6, the best of the rest behind Tadej Pogačar

There was to be no stopping Pogačar in Catalonia and Mikel Landa's (Soudal Quick-Step) performance must be applauded, with the Basque rider sealing second place, some 3:31 behind the effervescent Slovenian. But for Bernal, this was a performance to remember.

His rides at the Tour Colombia, O Gran Camiño and Paris-Nice were all good indicators that the winter has seen the Colombian become truly competitive in the sport once more, but over such difficult terrain and against such a star-studded field, the Volta a Catalunya was another step up.

The 27-year-old has good reason to be proud of how far he has come over the last two years.

"For me, this is just an incredible thing to be again [on] a podium in a WorldTour race."

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